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If we said breakups were hard, that would be an overstatement so strong it would be kind of insulting. But we will say that they’re complicated, and they’re varied – ranging from the "OK-I-guess" to the heartbreaking and messy.

Then there are friendship breakups. Less talked about, but perhaps the most complicated. So, how do you manage the delicate dynamics of a friendship breakup? Speaking to those who’ve been on the friendship breakup frontlines and experts in how to handle them, Mashable has a guide to working it all out. 

How do I know the friendship is over?

Friendship breakups often don’t come with the clear markers that romantic breakups do, which can leave lingering feelings of ambiguity. That ambiguity can lead to all kinds of stress, including not feeling sure if a friendship has even properly ended. 

That was the case for 26-year-old Elizabeth, a nursing student (who, like the other case studies interviewed in this piece, is only sharing her first name for privacy). "My best friend of six years just stopped making plans or responding to my ideas for days out. One day I realized we must not be close friends anymore."

SEE ALSO: Can you ever cut all ties after a breakup in the digital age?

According to relationship coach Michelle Shahbazyan, it’s unfortunately common for friendships to end without you really realising. It’s not always intended to be as cruel and unfair as it feels. We simply don’t have the same cultural scripts for navigating or ending friendships as we do romantic relationships, so a lot of us would rather say nothing at all. Sometimes, we also don’t even realise that we want to end the relationship.

She explains that key signs a friendship might be ending include "repeated feelings of tension, unequal effort in maintaining the relationship, or a lack of mutual respect." When unresolved conflicts or life changes make your friendship feel draining rather than uplifting, it might be time to step back.

How do you properly break up with a friend?

For Elizabeth, stepping back looked "something a bit like ghosting." 

"I’m not proud of the way it went and I’m sure she’s not either but it was like we made an invisible, unspoken decision to call it. Neither of us confronted the other. I didn’t ask why she stopped messaging as much or turning up to things. I didn’t tell her it was over. We just stopped talking," she explains.  

"It was heartbreaking," Elizabeth adds. "But I also still have lots of friends I love." Dr. Kimberly Horn, a relationship therapist specialising in friendship and the author of Friends Matter, For Life, points out that many friendships are not designed to last forever: "Most don’t. They often serve a specific time and place in life, with 30 percent of closest friends still intact after seven years." Recognising these signs early can help you prepare for the transition and avoid unnecessary hurt.

Elizabeth isn’t the only one who’s called off a friendship without letting the person know. 34-year-old Natasha, a sales assistant, tells Mashable, "My best friend of six years kind of broke up with me without letting me know. She stopped returning calls, she never wanted to meet up. It was like my best friend was quiet-quitting me. Even when I called her out and was like ‘You’re ignoring me. Do you not want to be friends anymore?’ I got nothing," she tells Mashable. 

Ending a friendship is rarely easy, but doing it with empathy and respect can minimise the emotional fallout. Shahbazyan advises, "Choose a private, calm setting to share your feelings, avoid blaming language, and express gratitude for the positive moments you’ve shared." This approach not only maintains mutual dignity but also sets a foundation for healing.

You should handle a friendship breakup similarly to a romantic one. Sure, you’re less likely to be discussing sex or child custody or home arrangements (unless those happened to apply to your friendship) but you still need to be gentle. Discuss why the breakup needs to happen, why you can no longer be friends. what you’d like to do from here (do you want to remain civil or cut off all contact completely?)

What about potential awkward encounters?

Discussing where you want to go next as part of the friendship breakup is pretty important, because if you have mutual friends, that will complicate the matter. 

"Mutual friends can feel caught in the middle, leading to discomfort or divided loyalties," says Shahbazyan. If you do have them, she recommends avoiding gossip or pressuring others to take sides. Instead, focus on respecting everyone’s autonomy and maintaining other relationships independently. 

Horn echoes this, adding that it’s important not to feel like your friendships have to exist in a group setting if that was the dynamic previously. If your other friends are genuinely good, you should be able to transfer the relationship to a one-on-one style. "Shared spaces like group chats or mutual friends can make it harder to create distance [with the former friend you’ve parted ways with]. If the group chat feels overwhelming, it’s okay to leave. You can always reach out to mutual friends individually," she explains. 

SEE ALSO: The only dating apps worth downloading in December 2024

This is a friendship breakup after all, though, and it’s important to stay realistic. If you saw this person a lot before, you are likely going to see them again. At mutual friends’ birthday parties, down the pub, at school reunions, etc. So, prepare for that. 

Whether it’s a party with mutual friends or a chance run-in on the street, preparing for these moments can help reduce anxiety. Shahbazyan suggests setting boundaries and deciding in advance how much interaction you’re comfortable with. "Staying composed and kind can help you maintain your peace," she advises.

What do we do about social media?

As we know all too well from romantic breakups, social media adds a layer of complication to relationship ending, since social media keeps everyone we know within arm’s reach. 

"I often find myself staring at all of [my former friend’s] Instagram stories," Natasha says. "I’ll start replaying them because I recognise a place or a person’s arm and I’m like ‘oh she’s at the pub is she — that’s my pub! And then I’m just annoyed with myself."

Online encounters can be as tricky as in-person ones. Horn notes that mutual friends’ posts or group chats can stir up unresolved emotions. "Focus on the relationships that truly matter to you," she suggests, and don’t hesitate to leave a group chat or adjust your settings if it feels too overwhelming.

Horn adds, "Social media makes it hard to move on because it keeps the other person constantly in your view." Seeing posts of your former friend, or worse, them with a "replacement friend," can intensify feelings of sadness or jealousy.

When it comes to unfriending, muting, or blocking, the choice depends on your needs. Horn advises, "Muting can give you the space you need without cutting ties, while blocking is a good choice if the breakup was toxic or seeing their updates feels overwhelming. Unfriending or unfollowing might be the middle ground for a clean break." Prioritising your mental health is key, so choose the option that creates the distance you need to heal.

SEE ALSO: What are the rules for blocking someone after a breakup? How to move forward from a friendship breakup 

Friendship breakups can leave you feeling lonely or uncertain, so it's important to allow yourself time to mourn the loss. It might take a while, which is to be expected. Be patient with yourself and give yourself a break. "Reflecting on the lessons learned can foster growth and healing," says Shahbazyan.

Horn notes that reframing our thinking is important for moving forward too. Our societal thinking around relationships ending — romantic or otherwise — is that they’re failures. We’re told to hold on to everyone in our lives and that letting someone slip is some kind of personal error. But Horn says, "Letting go [of a friendship] isn’t a failure. Some relationships served a purpose at one point, but not now." And that’s okay. By focusing on friendships that do bring value to your life, you can carry on through life with peace of mind.

To build healthy friendships in the future, both Shahbazyan and Horn say it’s important to prioritise genuine connections and open communication. Shahbazyan says, "Invest time in building genuine connections by prioritising quality over quantity. Maintain clear and open communication, set healthy boundaries, and nurture relationships through consistent, meaningful interactions" which definitely seems like a good place to start.  

Breaking up with a friend is not easy. And it never will be (sorry). But with clear communication, a thoughtful approach and care all-round, you can navigate the process with minimal damage. 

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Dec. 23: OUR TOP PICK Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $21.99 (save $28 with on-page code 4KHOLIDAYUP) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet $54.99 (save $45) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones $278 (save $121.99) Get Deal BEST MONITOR DEAL Samsung 43-inch M70D smart monitor $349 (save $150.99) Get Deal BEST HOME SECURITY DEAL Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $64.99 (save $64.99) Get Deal

Whether you're looking for last-minute gifts that will arrive by Christmas or you've finished your shopping and want to reward yourself with a little something, we've gathered all the best deals at Amazon on Dec. 23. There's plenty of excellent discounts on gadgets from Samsung, Sony, and Amazon itself.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Don't see anything that sparks your interest? No worries; we'll be making all new picks tomorrow. Plus, many of the deals we featured on Friday, Dec. 20 are still live — like this 4-pack of AirTags down to its best-ever price from Black Friday.

Our top pick: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $21.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $28.00 with on-page coupon code 4KHOLIDAYUP Get Deal

Looking for a last-minute stocking stuffer? Not only will the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K arrive before Christmas, but it's also down to its best-ever price from Black Friday when you use the on-page coupon code 4KHOLIDAYUP at checkout. That drops the $49.99 price tag all the way down to $21.99 — 56% in savings. Only $2 more than the typical Fire TV Stick HD, the 4K version is better in every way. Like the name suggests, it offers support for cinematic 4K Ultra HD, as well as support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, and WiFi 6. Plus, it now lets you play Xbox games without a console.

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

The new Fire HD 8 quietly joined the Fire tablet lineup in October and has seen plenty of discounts since. As of Dec. 23, it's back down to its Black Friday price of $54.99 (reg. $99.99), which saves you 45%. Compared to its predecessor from 2022, the latest model packs 50 percent more RAM for enhanced performance (3GB instead of 2GB), a better camera (5MP vs. 2MP), new generative AI-powered features, and a more affordable price. It also didn't fix what wasn't broken; it packs the same display, storage options, and battery life as its predecessor.

Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones $278.00 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $121.99 Get Deal

We just featured the Sony WH-1000XM5s as the Amazon deal of the day on Friday, Dec. 20, but they deserve a spot on today's list as well, as they just dropped another $1.99 in price. We're major fans of these headphones — and we've tested a lot. The WH-1000XM5s feature impeccable sound quality, great noise cancellation, customizable sound, 30-hour battery life, crisp call clarity, voice assistant support, cozy ear cushions, and a convenient ambient mode for tuning into your surroundings. It's no wonder that our Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern gave them a nearly perfect rating and a Mashable Choice award.

Samsung 43-inch M70D smart monitor Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 43-inch M70D smart monitor $349.00 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $150.99 Get Deal

The 43-inch M7 smart monitor from Samsung offers the best of both worlds — a large, clear monitor for your work setup and a decent-size smart TV for streaming. If you don't have room for both in your space, it makes for a solid alternative. It can be operated via mouse and keyboard or remote and Samsung's smart TV platform and Gaming Hub are built in. So there's no need for adapters and dongles or confusing setups. Switching between work and entertainment is a breeze. It's usually $499.99, but you can slash 30% off as of Dec. 23 and pick it up for just $349, which matches its record-low. Just note that it won't arrive until after Christmas.

Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight camera Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera $64.99 at Amazon
$129.98 Save $64.99 Get Deal

Shine a spotlight on the things that go bump in the night — or just brighten up the path for delivery drivers — with the Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera. It features 700 lumens of motion-triggered illumination and crisp HD footage, no matter the time of day. With two-way audio, you'll be able to speak to people or pets and get a heads up if the noises you hear are worth worrying about. A Blink subscription plan can unlock even more features, like enhanced motion detection and cloud sharing. It's usually $130, but it's down to only $64.99 at Amazon as of Dec. 23. That's 50% in savings and matches its all-time low. Check your location to see if it'll arrive in time for Christmas.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Dec. 23rd, Best Buy's 48-Hour Flash Sale is offering doorbuster deals of up to 50% and above on tech products from brands like Apple, Dyson, and JBL.

The best deals from Best Buy's 48-Hour Sale Best Bluetooth speaker deal JBL Xtreme3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker $199.99 (Save $130) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) $379.99 (Save $170) Get Deal Best TV deal LG 43” UT70 Series UHD Smart webOS TV $199.99 (Save $200) Get Deal

You might think that all the great December sales lead up to Christmas, but Best Buy’s 48-Hour Flash Sale is almost right on top of it. These doorbusters are some of the best savings you’ll find right now.

The Best Buy 48-Hour Flash Sale features huge price drops on tech like the JBL Xtreme3 Bluetooth speaker, Apple headphones, and a sweet LG TV.

Here are the deals of Best Buy's 48-Hour Flash Sale that impressed us most:

Best Bluetooth speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Xtreme3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker $199.99 at Best Buy
$329.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

The JBL Xtreme3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a turbocharged mobile speaker. The Xtreme3 keeps the same pill shaped design and dual subwoofers that JBL fans know and love, but adds considerable size and brawn.

At 100 watts, this speaker gets loud, and will even pair with other JBLs for those who want even more sound, empowering all speakers to play in unison. Weatherproof and simple to pair, this is your go to speaker for the out-of-doors.

Right now the JBL Xtreme3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is on sale at Best Buy's 48-Hour Flash Sale for $199.99 for a savings of $130.

SEE ALSO: This is your last chance to get a PlayStation VR2 before Christmas (and it's at its Black Friday price) The best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) $379.99 at Best Buy
$549.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

Some of the flashiest headphones around are getting a much-needed price cut. Apple AirPods Max offer excellent sound and impeccable noise cancellation. We loved a lot of things about these headphones, but we balked at the price. However, for $170 off, Apple's high end headphones start to look pretty darn palatable.

With batteries that go and go and gorgeous aesthetics, these headphones are deeply classy. Take advantage of Best Buy's 48-Hour Flash Sale and get Apple AirPods Max for $379.99, saving 31%.

The best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 43” UT70 Series UHD Smart webOS TV $199.99 at Best Buy
$399.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

This smart, ultra-HD 43" TV could be a huge upgrade. Right now, the LG 43” UT70 Series UHD Smart webOS TV is available for only $199, saving $200 at Best Buy's 48-Hour Flash Sale.

Direct lit LEDs display display high level contrast and HDR content. 4K scaling ensures that all content looks good on this high definition screen, whether you're watching a brand new Hollywood flick, or a Seinfeld rerun.

If you're looking for a modern smart TV don't miss getting 50% off on this contemporary LG dazzler.

More deals from the Best Buy 48-Hour Flash Sale

• Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 Pro chip 24GB Memory 512GB SSD — $1,699.00 $1,999.00 (save $300)

• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 256GB — $849.99 $1,299.99 (save $350)

• HP AMD Ryzen 5 - 8GB Memory - 512GB SSD — $299.99 $579.99 (save $280)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones — $299.00 $429.00 (save $130)

Tyler Perry and Kerry Washington tell the lesser-known story of The Six Triple Eight, the 855 Black women who served in World War II, and why it was important to them to bring this story to life.

The Six Triple Eight premieres on Netflix Dec. 20.

SAVE 55%: As of Dec. 23, you can save up to 55% on select Echo devices. Shop the Echo Dot, Echo Spot, or Echo Pop and have it delivered before Christmas.

Best Echo deals as of Dec. 23: Best deal overall Echo Spot $44.99 (save $35) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Echo Dot $22.99 (save $27 ) Get Deal Best budget pick Echo Pop $17.99 (save $22) Get Deal

With Christmas just two days away, it’s hard to believe anything would ship in time to sneak under the tree, but Amazon’s working hard to get everyone their holiday tech gifts before the big day.

As of Dec. 23, you can snag an Echo device for up to 55% off and still get it delivered before December 25th.

Here are our top picks for the best Echo deals you can get right now:

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Spot $44.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The all-new Amazon Echo Spot (newest model) is just $44.99 right now, down from $79.99. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen this model go for, according to CamelCamelCamel’s price tracking data, and $35 off the regular price.

The Amazon Echo Spot features a smart alarm clock that displays the time, weather, song titles, and more. You can customize the clock face, set routines, control other smart home devices (as long as they’re compatible), and listen to your favorite music, news, and podcasts.

Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot $22.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $27.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Dot (2022) is also on sale for $22.99, down from $49.99 — another all-time low price.

This new and improved version of the Echo Dot has an upgraded speaker and eero built-in to boost your WiFi coverage. It's the perfect size for smaller rooms or putting on your nightstand. But, if you want something a little bigger, the Amazon Echo (4th gen) is also down to $54.99 from $99.99.

Best budget deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you thought you couldn’t get an Echo device for under $20, Amazon’s selling the Echo Pop for $17.99. That’s $22 off the list price and the lowest price this model’s ever been.

The Echo Pop is smaller than most Echo devices, but the sound quality is still great for its size. Plus, you can do everything the more expensive Echos can, like voice control smart home devices, set timers and alarms, check the weather, play music, and more.

SAVE $169.01: The Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) are on sale for $379.99 at Best Buy as of Dec. 23. That's 30% off their $549 MSRP and a match of their record-low Cyber Monday price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) $379.99 at Best Buy
$549.00 Save $169.01 Available in silver, space gray, and green Get Deal

It's the most wonderful time for your ears: Best Buy has revived one of the best AirPods deals of 2024 right before the holidays.

As of Dec. 23, the Apple AirPods Max with Lightning charging are on sale for $379.99 as part of a 48-Hour Flash Sale there. That's a match of their all-time low from Cyber Monday (and a 30% discount on their usual sticker price of $549), which Best Buy has only offered one other time since as a limited-time weekend doorbuster in mid-December.

This current deal applies to all five colorways, but only three of them were still in stock at the time of writing: silver, space gray, and green. On the plus side, those three variants were available for same-day pickup and next-day delivery in certain locations; you can enter your zip code on the AirPods Max's product page to see if they're on tap near you before you head to checkout.

SEE ALSO: For gym rats and picky audiophiles alike, these are the 7 best headphones of 2024

Apple's original over-ear headphones from 2020 sound great, look cool, offer "excellent" noice cancellation, and have a decently long battery life. That's according to former Mashable Tech Reporter Brenda Stolyar, who gave them a 4.2/5 in her review. She docked a few points for their hit-or-miss comfort, their weird missing power button, and (perhaps obviously) their costliness.

In 2024, we think you can get even better headphones for a way better price. But if you're an Apple loyalist, Best Buy's $170 discount definitely helps their case.

Like the two other times this deal has popped up, it only applies to the older Lightning version of the AirPods Max, not the newer USB-C variant. (Those are now $499.99 at Amazon and Best Buy.) But as I've mentioned before, anyone with an iPhone 15 or newer can purchase Apple's USB-C to Lightning Adapter for under $30.

SAVE OVER 90%: A three-month subscription to Audible is on sale for just $0.99 per month, down from the typical price of $14.95 per month. That's a total savings of $41.88.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible subscription $0.99 at Amazon
$14.95 Save $13.96 sale price extends to first three months Get Deal

Shopping for last-minute holiday gifts? While it may seem late in the game, there's still time to gift something thoughtful that'll be enjoyed for months to come. Especially great for dealing with chilly winter months, audiobooks are the perfect gift and there's currently a great deal from Amazon.

Until Dec. 31, the first three months of a Premium Plus Audible subscription are just $0.99 per month, down from the usual price of $14.95. This sale price will save you over 90% on the three-month deal, slashing $41.88 off the total price overall. After the initial three months, the plan will automatically revert to $14.95 per month, but you're free to cancel at anytime.

The Audible library is packed with audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible originals that will keep you happily entertained through the winter. If you haven't jumped on the audio bandwagon yet, consider how enjoyable it would be to listen to an audiobook while driving, working out, walking the dog, or folding laundry.

SEE ALSO: Snag a pair of these Sony headphones at a price that's cheaper than Black Friday

If you're not one for listening to books, the Audible collection has tons of podcasts, including exclusives. The Premium Plus membership also gives you a credit each month to purchase any title from the Audible premium selection for free. Additionally, Premium Plus members get exclusive deals and discounts.

If you're one to always be tuned into podcasts or audiobooks, take advantage of this Amazon deal that'll give you three months of Audible for just $2.97 in total. You'll be saving over 90% compared to the typical price of $14.95 per month, and it's the perfect way to get a taste of the service. Be sure to sign up by 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 31 to snag this Amazon deal.

The New York Times Games has finally introduced the Connections Archive — an exclusive feature for Games and All Access subscribers. Launched on October 8, the archive allows users to revisit and replay over 450 puzzles from the popular Connections game, which launched in June 2023.

Initially accessible on desktop and mobile web, the archive was rolled out to the NYT Games app on iOS and Android later that month. According to Jonathan Knight, head of Games at The New York Times, the archive was "one of the most requested features" from fans.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 23, 2024 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 23

Through the archive, subscribers gain access to all past Connections puzzles, can resume unfinished games, and track their performance history. Upon completing puzzles, users have the option to share their results and explore insights via the Connections Bot, a daily tool designed to offer personalized puzzle analysis.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

The United Kingdom may soon force social media firms to seek out and remove underage users from their platforms.

The UK's Office of Communications, more commonly known as Ofcom, has set out a plan to force tech companies to use facial recognition to ban social media users who are underage.

"The sort of thing that we might look to in that space is some of this facial age estimation technology that we see companies bringing in now, which we think is really pretty good at determining who is a child and who is an adult,"Jon Higham, Ofcom's head of online safety policy, told The Telegraph in an interview. "So we're going to be looking to drive out the use of that sort of content, so platforms can determine who's a child and who isn't, and then put in place extra protections for kids to stop them [from] seeing toxic content."

Ofcom told the Telegraph that up to 60 percent of eight to 11-year-olds have social media profiles, despite most major social platforms requiring users to be at least 13 years old. Lots of kids, as one might expect, lie about their age online.

"What we see is 22 percent of children are online with a profile which suggests they're an adult because at the moment all too many platforms basically let children self-certify how old they are," Higham told The Telegraph. "It doesn't take a genius to work out that children are going to lie about their age."

Tweet may have been deleted

Governments worldwide continually grapple with how to protect kids from the worst of the online world. In Australia, for instance, they've passed legislation banning anyone under 16 from using social media. Tech companies could be fined millions of dollars if they don't comply.

SEE ALSO: World’s strictest social media law targets users under 16 in Australia

Keeping kids off social media is likely a good idea, as Mashable coverage of many, many surveys and studies has shown. It's a tough task, but it may prove worthwhile for the mental health of every kid with a WiFi connection.

SAVE $250: As of Dec. 23, the PlayStation VR2 is back down to its Black Friday price of $349.99 ($250 off). It'll be delivered before Christmas if you pick it up at Best Buy, and you'll also get a copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony PlayStation VR2 + 'Horizon Call of the Mountain' bundle $349.99 at Best Buy
$599.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal

If you haven't ventured into the world of VR gaming yet, the holiday season is a perfect time to do just that. Why? Well, because they usually go on deep sale. Even if you missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it's still not too late to take advantage of some savings.

If you're one of those people who's scrambling to get a last-minute holiday gift (don't worry, we understand — 2024 was a weird one), you might want to consider picking up this PlayStation VR2 bundle. It's back down to the same price it was on Black Friday, and it'll get delivered before Christmas as long as you purchase from Best Buy. You'll also get a copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain, one of the very best PSVR2 games.

SEE ALSO: Gaming starter kit: All the gear you need to play like a real gamer

While the Meta Quest 3S is probably the more user-friendly option, the PlayStation VR2 is a great VR headset in its own right thanks to its catalog of games and simple setup. Yes, it is a tethered headset, but it plugs easily into your PlayStation 5 console instead of a PC tower and doesn't require anything else of you other than some guided calibration settings. The star of the show here is the gaming library, though. In addition to Horizon, you'll also be able to jump into killer titles like Gran Turismo 7, Resident Evil 4, Firewall Ultra, and more.

Grab your PSVR2 bundle at Best Buy today to save $250 and get it before Christmas. Just be fast!

Hallucinations, a bane of popular A.I. programs, turn out to be a boon for venturesome scientists eager to push back the frontiers of human knowledge.

The cast of A Complete Unknown—Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and Ed Norton—delve into the intricate process of portraying figures from Bob Dylan's orbit. From Dylan's input on the screenplay to the emotional weight of embodying Joan Baez and Pete Seeger, the actors share insights, challenges, and how Fanning approached Suze Rotolo’s sacred legacy.

A Complete Unknown opens only in theaters Dec. 25.

President-elect Donald Trump wants to keep TikTok — at least, right now he does.

At AmericaFest, hosted by Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, on Sunday, Trump said he "did go on TikTok and we had a great response with billions of views." Trump has 14.7 million followers on the app. While his videos regularly have many millions of views, there doesn't appear to be any videos on his TikTok page with "billions of views." The video with the most views is the first he posted, with nearly 179 million views.

"They brought me a chart, and it was a record, and it was so beautiful to see, and as I looked at it, I said, 'Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while,'" he said, according to Reuters. This comes just after Trump met with TikTok's CEO and said he had a "warm spot" for the app.

SEE ALSO: When will TikTok be banned in the U.S.? And what can stop it from happening?

This is the newest approach Trump has taken on the platform, a significant change from his 2020 attempts to ban it.

It comes at a time in which a TikTok ban seems imminent. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law in April that would ban TikTok in the U.S. on Jan. 19 unless ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, divests from the app. A federal appeals court upheld Biden's law, and TikTok is begging the Supreme Court to take the case or at least let the new administration weigh in.

It's unclear what Trump will actually do to stop the ban on TikTok. He doesn't become president until the day after the ban goes into effect, and the president-elect can't make any legislative changes — no matter how badly he says he wants to "keep this sucker around."

President-elect Donald Trump is tapping the technology sector for key roles, and executives from the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz are featuring heavily.

Beast Games, MrBeast's new game show that has been at the centre of controversy after contestants accused production of creating unsafe filming conditions, is live on Prime Video — and now the YouTuber has shared the first 10 minutes.

In the footage above we see 1000 contestants entering a dark arena with the hope of winning the $5 million top prize — but it isn't long before the challenges start and the players begin to get whittled down.

Beast Games is streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes dropping each Thursday.

Even as Telegram faces legal scrutiny and grapples with billions in debt, it is set to be profitable for the first time as it tries cryptocurrencies, subscriptions and ads.

The older-style chips are crucial for a wide array of appliances and other machinery, including weaponry.

Being online in 2024 involved a few universal truths: Baby animals are back. Brat is in the eye of the beholder. And, most importantly, activism never rests.

In a year of political and digital upheaval, pockmarked by jarring headlines, tech launches, and an election season that felt unceasing, digital spaces were important hubs for education, organizing, and, consequently, emotional processing. Scrutiny was the name of the game online, and no person or technology was safe. As artificial intelligence embedded itself deeper into our daily lives, many began questioning its human and environment impact. When Democrats launched a late campaign for president, Americans wondered about the state of modern elections and political representation — and tech's influence in it all. With global conflicts raging on despite cries for change, digital communities found purpose in each other.

The digital was certainly political in 2024. Here's what users shined the spotlight on.

SEE ALSO: The best internet moments of 2024, from Moo Deng mania to 'brat' summer Palestine, online

Marking over a year since the attack on Israel on Oct.7 and defined by continued violence in occupied Palestine, 2024 saw one of the most universally recognized movements for Palestinian solidarity in the conflict's history. And it's still being amplified: Calls for a ceasefire continue to flood comment sections and online petitions, with some crediting it to a radical shift in how people, mainly young people, conceptualize their personal politics.

While students took over their campuses and harnessed live streams to get out the word, celebrities used their own online visibility to call attention to the humanitarian crisis, from emblems worn on red carpets and in their best glamour shots to outright political messages, fundraisers, and petitions posted to their public profiles.

The internet rallies for citizen journalists

The pro-Palestine movement has also created a new, digitally-connected legion of journalists and activists. Certain creators and artists morphed into international correspondents, like Bisan Owda, Motaz Azaiza, and Medo Halimy, and became more than symbols of a cause, but essential sources of news footage and disseminators of personal stories of those on the ground. And in doing this work, these accounts thrust the ongoing limitations, and outright biases, of social media platforms into the digital conversation.

Credit: Mark Kerrison / In Pictures via Getty Images Harnessing TikTok for good

Continuing the strategies that paid off in gathering mass attention in the wake of Oct. 7, users on TikTok found increasingly creative ways to keep the plight of besieged Palestinians in the forefront of users minds. Reconfiguring TikTok's notoriously mysterious algorithm, users turned the app's suggested search or "blue comment" feature into a tool for protest. A meticulously planned effort known as Operation Watermelon, creators and celebrities were flooded by coordinated user comments that would co-opt an already viral or highly-viewed page in order to steer attention back to the situation in Gaza.

Happening simultaneously, a fundraising movement called Operation Olive Branch saw popular users adopting and amplifying the voices of Palestinian creators, activists, and families on the ground, led by a network of grassroots volunteers trying to connect families with humanitarian aid. "Link in bio" took on a different meaning.

Boycotting goes viral

Widely, the historic strategy of coordinated boycotting became ingratiated into the internet lexicon, either part of or just inspired by the pro-Palestine BDS movement. Users online entered into a naming and shaming game of boycotted companies, brands, and even people — with some very successful (and some not so successful) results.

A movement to save TikTok

This March saw the latest effort to ban Chinese-owned social media app TikTok out of perceived national security concerns — several unsuccessful attempts to get the app to divest from its foreign owners had been introduced in the past. Many watchdogs, and the platform itself, felt the government was violating free speech protections in doing so. Users, increasingly relying on TikTok for information, agreed. That month, users engaged in a mass calling campaign urging their representatives to save TikTok, causing disruption en masse in congressional offices. Others have spent the year appealing to federal leadership and their fellow users, both online and off, to halt the ban.

President Joe Biden eventually signed the ban bill into law, putting the social media platform on official notice that it needs to obtain new owners or get the hell out of dodge. The ban is set to go into effect on Jan. 19, but users, civil rights organizations, and digital rights groups are still fighting to keep the app restriction-free and the Supreme Court is set to be the final decider on the issue.

Credit: Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images Social media stand off

While thousands worked to save TikTok, 2024 also fostered a widespread questioning of how social media has altered the way users, fans, influencers, and celebrities interact with social causes. Culminating in what was coined a "digital guillotine," users carved lines in the social media sand, deciding as a collective whole who and where they would place their attention — they turned engagement into a bargaining tool.

Celebrities get the cold shoulder

In May, as the annual Met Gala brought glitz and glamour to the streets of New York, activists online were taking down names. A reckoning of privilege, the #Blockout2024 movement saw a mass unfollowing or blocking of the internet's favorite celebrities and influencers, and it became an entry point for many online to get active in humanitarian calls for a ceasefire in Palestine.

The practice didn't stop there. Since the celebrity-studded gala, blockout lists have continued as a form of preferred political organizing online, across a variety of issues — although it's not without its complications.

X gets ghosted

Digital communities were also getting more serious about their distaste for corporate interests. In the wake of owner Elon Musk's controversial political alignments and policy decisions, including new data and AI terms of service, users and organizations alike have fled the platform. In September, the platform had lost nearly one-fifth of its active user base — new numbers project the platform may lose millions more in 2025.

News organizations like the Guardian, as well as some of the platform's most popular celebrity accounts, shuttered their presence on the site, following in the footsteps of nonprofits and activists who left the site in the early period after Musk's takeover. Users craving a similar digital environment instead looked for alternatives like Bluesky, an open source platform selling a community-driven version of social media.

A history-making election year

The most intensely covered news of 2024 was no doubt the U.S. presidential election, and the results, for many, signaled a sharp turn in America's future, one that had been hinted at long before November. Broadly, the internet and its flashy, audience-specific branding enmeshed itself further in political organizing, including Kamala Harris' brat-themed and meme-filled campaign and the rise of a new, thirst-driven political commentator class — for better or for worse. Young people were engaged, and tech companies were forced to address ongoing issues of misinformation and cybersecurity in the age of AI.

Zooms, fundraising booms

In the months leading up to November's vote casting, blocs of voters were showing out in history-making digital campaign efforts. Zoom fundraising calls for the Harris campaign skyrocketed past existing records, including platform-breaking calls organized by identity-based efforts, like White Women: Answer The Call! and #WinWithBlackWomen. The world of fandom entered the ring, as well, including the creation of an official Swifties for Kamala campaign.

Credit: Nick Oxford / The Washington Post via Getty Images Stepping up, nationwide

Organizing didn't stop in the wake of November's election results. Immediately, profiles online became hubs of support and calls to action. Students nationwide walked out after the results, coupled with continued cries for U.S. intervention in the Israeli bombardment of Palestine.

And there were wins to share, too. Seven out of 10 states entrenched abortion rights in their state constitutions. The first out transgender Congressperson, Sarah McBride, won a historic seat in the House, in addition to other major progressive pick ups. The electorate was, at the very least, paying attention again.

It is difficult (read: impossible) to summarize a whole calendar year of digital community building, culture making, and activism, but one thing was true: Users aren't just letting things slide anymore. Power holders should be prepared.

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